Anaheim Ducks forward Joffrey Lupul is getting close to returning to the Anaheim Ducks. Today, the team announced they were sending Lupul to their AHL affiliate in Syracuse on a long-term rehab assignment. This means that Lupul will get up to three games with the Syracuse Crunch to get back into game shape. If he’s not ready by then, the team can get a two-game extension from the league if necessary. Lupul hasn’t played since December 8th, 2009 when he had back surgery. After surgery, Lupul developed an infection in his back that slowed down his recovery.

For the Ducks, Lupul gives them a skilled depth forward that the team has been missing out on this season. While the top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry have been producing well enough for the team, getting more punch from the second and third lines is something they could use. There’s only so much elder statesmen Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu can do to carry them and adding Lupul gives them another guy that can fill the net. Three times in his career Lupul has scored 20+ goals and just about any team could stand to add a player like that to the lineup.